GREETINGS FROM FAIR HAVEN, VERMONT

 

 

 

ALL PICTURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED FROM THIS TRACKCHASING TRIP AT WWW.RANLAYRACING.COM

 

 

 

SPECIAL THANKS!!

 

Jim Brennan

 

Jim is a long-time reader of the Trackchaser Report.  He is also a columnist with the Hawkeye Racing News racing paper located in Vinton, Iowa.  I have been a subscriber to this paper for more than 30 years.  Jim recently did a story about my trackchasing in the HRN.  You can read his work at www.ranlayracing.com.  Just click on the “Media coverage” tab.

 

Jay Pesicka

 

Jay is the Course Superintendent at the Pacific Golf Club.  Jay is originally from South Dakota and a new reader of the Trackchaser Report.  Jay’s dad in South Dakota picked up a couple copies of the recent Argus Leader newspaper story about my trackchasing.  The newspaper story goes into more detail than the internet version of the story that I posted on the website.  If you would like to read the “Expanded” story, again go to www.ranlayracing.com and click on the “Media coverage” tab.

 

Dave Sully

 

I was reunited with Dave this past week at the Little Valley Speedway in New York.  Dave does all kinds of media work including a radio program called Pit Stop.  It airs on Saturdays at noon on WJJL, 1440AM.  The coverage area is Western New York and Southern Ontario.  I’ll be on his program so if you’re in the area tune in.

 

 

Special thanks to each of these folks for taking the time out of their schedules to support trackchasing.

 

CAROL AND I WOKE UP IN LEBANON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy

                                                                                        

Today’s trackchasing strategy revolves around Carol’s trackchasing.  She has never been to Vermont to see a racetrack.  By adding Vermont, she will have seen racing in 40 different states.  She expects to increase that total during the ladder part of the 2006 season.

The Trip

 

Some trackchasing days are better than others.  This day certainly had its issues.

 

First, we drove down to Manchester, New Hampshire on Sunday morning.  The Londonderry Raceway was having a last minute “Rain date” makeup race.  I had spoken with the promoter in advance of our visit.  She said she wasn’t sure how many competitors they would have.  Since this was a last minute make up date, some racers had scheduled vacations and some would be going to the Nextel Cup race in Loudon.  To make a long story short, they had only five or six racecars show up, almost all in different divisions.  They held a short practice and decided not to race. 

 

This was actually my second trip to the Londonderry Raceway.  I was rained out on my first visit.  It looks like I’ll be coming back to this track for a third time sometime in the future, since there was no countable racing today.  This misstep took us more than 150 miles out of our way.

 

Our second less than productive stop was at a small roadside seafood restaurant just across the Vermont state line.  It was a gorgeous day, although somewhat on the warm and humid side.  It was time for lunch and the eatery sign bragged about their fried clams.

 

A small order of fried clams, an order of hush puppies, a bottle of water and an iced tea cost us $19.  The fried clams ended up being less than totally fried.  Biting into them, reminded us of eating sushi.  Bad!  We had them fry them some more, but it only added to the grease content.

 

Our third disappointment for the day centered around our evening’s lodging.  Tonight’s racetrack is located near the Vermont/New York border.  We stopped at the Vermont Welcome Center.  We learned there were very few hotels in the area.  There was one location recommended and a call to the establishment confirmed they had one room left.  It was a small cottage located directly on Lake Bomoseen at a rate of just $80.  Perfect!

 

We drove over to the property and I entered the property office.  The office found me standing in an older woman’s living room.  The woman looked at me and said,  “I’m so sorry.  My daughter took your reservation and she didn’t know I sold our last room two hours ago.”  No lakefront cottage.  No morning new track in New Hampshire.  No tasty fried clams.  We were having a bad day.

 

I will say the day’s trip was not a total washout.  We arrived at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway at about 4:30 p.m.  They would not be starting until 7 p.m.  The track is located in the midst of rolling Vermont farmland.  We needed a place for dinner.

 

A fuel stop yielded a great recommendation from both the gas station attendant and one of his customers.  When I asked for a place to eat, they both replied in unison, “The Lake House.”  Soon their directions had us driving just 4-5 miles over to a very large lake and its lakeside restaurant.  We were given a table within five feet of the lake.  People would drive their boats up, dock and sit down to eat.  If you go to the Devil’s Bowl Speedway, don’t miss the “Lake House.”  The view, service and food were outstanding.

The People

The people of New England have been great.  If I had to say, I would give the nod to New Hampshire over Vermont in people niceness.  Of course, my data to make this judgment is limited but our Granite state experiences were superior.

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY, FAIR HAVEN, VERMONT - TRACK #1,078 – 7/16/06

CAROL’S TRACKS INCLUDED – DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY, FAIR HAVEN, VERMONT - TRACK #267 – 7/16/06

 

This was only my second ever career track in Vermont.  All the way back in 1985, I went to Thunder Road in Barrie, Vermont.  My Vermont ranking is now 21^st, although I would only need four Vermont tracks to be tied for 7^th place.

 

This was Carol’s first ever track in the Green Mountain state.  This gives her 40 different states where she has trackchased.  This gives her a 28^th place state rank and a tie with NASCAR’s Ken Schrader among others.  Paul Weidman leads the state with just nine tracks.

 

 

 

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY

 

I don’t like to be too negative when I write about an individual track, but with the Devil’s Bowl Speedway, it might be necessary.  I’ve not certain what their problem is, but they seem to have one.

 

You’ve all seen the neighbor’s kid who rides by your house on his or her bicycle.  You know the wimpy little kid who has training wheels, a helmet, maybe two helmets, elbow and knee pads, a heart monitor, a first aid kit attached to the handle bars and maybe a cell phone in case a call to 911 is necessary.  They seem to be expecting all kinds of bad things to happen and very few really will.

 

The Devil’s Bowl Speedway seemed to have very little confidence in their customers.  I’m not sure what all of the track’s rules were designed to prevent.  I have never been trackchasing in communist China, but being at this track made me feel like I was in a communist controlled environment.  Let me list just some of the rules and regulations of this track.

 

-        No Camcorders.  This is not an unheard of rule.  I estimate that 10% or less of all the tracks I see have this rule. I guess they are afraid I’m going to sell my footage to ESPN and they will miss their cut.

 

-        No Cameras.  Oh, my!  I have never ever been to a track where still cameras were not allowed.  These people really are communists.

 

-        No blankets.  Oh, my again.  Granted it was nearly 90 degrees today and I didn’t need a blanket.  However, Vermont can get very chilly in the spring and fall.  I asked a fan sitting next to me about this rule.  He told me they just “Wear more clothes” when it’s cold and the “No blanket” rule exists.

 

-        Food tickets only.  This meant we had to go to a special ticket booth and exchange cash for food tickets.  This is a control feature for the track.  It prevents employee theft.  The consumer (us) must now make two stops, one at the ticket booth and then at the food booth.  It also requires buying EXACTLY the right number of coupons for the food you want to buy.  Great for the track, not so great for the fans.

 

-        After each race, a few family and friends were permitted onto the track for a photo with the race winner.  Each time the fans walked onto the track from the stands, the announcer reminded them, “Going onto the track is dangerous business.  You do so at your own risk.  Please watch your step.”  Maybe the fans should have been given helmets before getting their picture taken with the race winner.

 

-        The flagman was actually WEARING a helmet.  I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before.

 

-        No re-entry.  That means you can’t go out to the car to get a blanket if the weather turns cold.  Of course, you couldn’t go out to get a blanket, because of the “No blanket” rule anyway.

 

-        No alcohol.

 

-        The announcer even had a warning for the kids.  He told them, “Don’t go under the grandstands.  There’s a lot of angle iron under there just waiting to hit you in the head.”

 

-        The track had a state trooper patrolling the parking lot while riding in a golf cart.  We were told by a nearby fan that the police would “Kick you out of the property if they catch you eating a Subway sandwich in the parking lot.”

 

-        At one point in the program, the announcer called for the sheriff to settle a disagreement.

 

-        Again, from the announcer, “We’ve placed extra trash cans on the grounds for your convenience.”  Please don’t tell me that something is a benefit to me when it’s a benefit for you. 

 

I kept looking up at the sky.  I fully expected, with all of this negative thinking that a meteor might fall on my head.  Luckily none did.  Again, the more than friendly fan sitting next to me, offered more local information.  Apparantently the next-door farmer does not like the racetrack.  Before each race, he releases the scent of cow manure that wafts over the grounds.  The cow manure smell was evident the moment we left the car.

 

The entire night was not a washout.  My one ticket (one dollar) sno cone was excellent.  The racing on the dirt oval track was the best of our entire trip.  The Northeastern dirt modifieds are one of my most favorite racing classes.  Kenny Tremont was in the field tonight.  He and I stayed at the same hotel a few years ago in Pennsylvania.  He held a door open for me and I’ve been a fan ever since!

 

Tremont started 11^th in a 20-car feature field.  He raced into second place before getting caught up in someone else’s wreck.  This sent him to the back of the pack for the restart.  By lap 15, he had passed everyone and went on to win the feature.  The modifieds were great.  The 19-car pro stock feature was also excellent.  The entire program was finished by 9:45 p.m.  I have never seen a pit area clear out as fast as they did at the Devil’s Bowl.  Since this is a Sunday night track, I guess everyone has to get up for work on Monday morning.

 

At intermission, I was called to the announcing booth.  Had the state trooper seen me pee in the parking lot?  Did they see me taking a picture of the races with my cell phone.  Were we going to be kicked out of the East coast?

 

No, the announcer wanted to talk about trackchasing with me.  I really didn’t want to do the interview, but I felt an obligation to the fans.  Let me tell you why I do these interviews.

 

Obviously, everyone in the stands has an interest in racing or they wouldn’t be at the track.  I’m leading a lifestyle that nearly every race fan thinks they would like to have.  I must say that if they tried it to the degree that I do it, most would probably not like it for long.  From the reaction of the fans, they have a real interest in someone who goes all over the world seeing racetracks.

 

These interviews are also educational for the local race fans.  I’ve done more than 100 at the track interviews.  Crowds at these tracks may have averaged between 1,000 and 2,000 people.  That means that somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 mostly different people have been exposed to the trackchasing hobby.  No other trackchaser has had such a widespread impact with exposure in nearly every single state and a few foreign countries.  I believe that when more people understand what trackchasing is all about and how it’s done, the benefits to the hobby can only be good.

CAROL’S COMMENTS

 

I’ve seen a lot more smokers here in New England than I would have expected.  I think this track is paranoid.  There was not one single positive vibe in the entire place.  They were too quick with the yellow flag.  Nevertheless, I thought the racing was great.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

It was hot.  Some genius thought it was a good idea to have the grandstands facing directly to the west.  Staring into a setting sun on a 90-degree and humid day is not much fun.

 

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

The Massachusetts plated National Rental Car Racing Pontiac Grand Prix was parked in the far reaches of the grass pasture parking lot.  I felt safer knowing the state police were patrolling the lot in a golf cart.

 

 

Wednesday total driving miles – 204 miles

Thursday total driving miles – 462 miles

Friday total driving miles – 428 miles

Saturday total driving miles – 296 miles

Sunday total driving miles –  323 miles

 

 

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

These worldwide trackchasers are within 100 tracks (plus or minus) of my current trackchaser total.

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,078

2.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York - 1,046 (-32)

3.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,037 (-41)

4.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,021 (-57)*

5.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 1,018 (-60)*

6.  Andy Sivi, Clairton, Pennsylvania – 1,015 (-63)*

7.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 914 (-164)**

 

 

* Warning, you are within 50 tracks of being removed from this list.

 

** Special exemption.

 

The widespread use of the “*” is causing my printer cartridges to run dry much faster than they should.

 

 

 

Other notables

 

These worldwide trackchasers are within 10 tracks (plus or minus) of Carol’s current trackchaser total.

 

36.  Dale Danielski, Onalaska, Wisconsin - 269

37.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California - 267

37.  Bob Schafer, Oshkosh, Wisconsin - 267 (+/- 0)

 

 

 

 

 

2006 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 87

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 54

3.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium – 46

4.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 44

5.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 37

6.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 36

7.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 32

7.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 32

7.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 32

10. Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan - 24

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

Randy Lewis

#1 Trackchaser Living West of the Mississippi

 

I should never care to argue for anything that would lesson the difficulty of the game because difficulty is its greatest charm. 

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

 

Los Angeles, CA -  Boston, MA – 2,567 miles

RENTAL CAR

 

Logan International Airport – trip begins

Little Valley, NY – 547 miles

Claremont, NH – 1,037 miles

Canaan, NH – 1,074 miles

Loudon, NH – 1,207 miles

North Woodstock, NH – 1,258 miles

Wentworth, NH – 1,290 miles

Fair Haven, VT,  – 1,686 miles

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Little Valley Speedway – $12

Twin State Speedway - $10

Canaan Fair Speedway $10 senior rate (Reg. $15)

New Hampshire International Speedway - $50

White Mountain Motorsports Park - $15

Legion Speedway - $10

Devil’s Bowl Speedway - $12

 

 

 

Past trackchasing stories are available at:

www.ranlayracing.com

 

Official trackchaser standings can be viewed at:

www.trackchaser.com  

 

Some of my standings data comes from trackchaser.com

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS

 

We should get one more track on this trip.  This will allow Carol to move into sole possession of 37^th position in the worldwide rankings.

 

 

 

 

 

RACETRACKS VISITED IN 2006 (** not the first time to visit this track)

 

992.  Watermelon Capital Speedway, Cordele, Georgia - January 14

 

993.  Cross Roads Motorplex (asphalt oval), Jasper, Florida - January 15

 

994.  Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia - January 20

 

995.  Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California - January 21

 

996.  Oregon State Fair & Expo Center, Forster Livestock Arena, Salem, Oregon - January 28

 

997.  Morosso Motorsports Park, Jupiter, Florida – February 4

 

998.  Thunderbowl Speedway of Ocala, Ocala, Florida - February 4

 

999.  Cross Roads Motorplex (dirt oval), Jasper, Florida - February 5

 

1,000.  Auburndale Kartway, Auburndale, Florida - February 10

 

1,001.  Ocala Speedway (asphalt oval), Ocala, Florida - February 12

 

1,002. Speedworld Speedway, Surprise, Arizona - February 19

 

1,003. Lowe’s Motor Speedway (1/5 mile asphalt oval), Concord, North Carolina - February 25

 

1,004. Concord Raceway, Concord, North Carolina - February 25

 

1,005. Antioch Speedway, Antioch, North Carolina - February 25

 

1,006. Green Valley Speedway, Gadsden, Alabama - February 26

 

1,007. East Bay Raceway (inner oval), Gibsonton, Florida – March 17

 

1,008. Volusia Speedway Park West (1/6M oval), Barberville, Florida – March 18

 

1,009. Speedway Park, Fruitland Park, Florida – March 18

 

1,010. Sand Mountain Speedway (road course), Fort Meade, Florida – March 19

 

1,011. Anderson Motor Speedway, Anderson, South Carolina – March 31

 

1,012. Westminster Speedway, Westminster, South Carolina – March 31

 

1,013. East Lincoln Motor Speedway, Stanley, North Carolina – April 1

 

1,014. Margarettsville Speedway, Margarettsville, North Carolina – April 2

 

1,015. Sunny South Raceway, Grand Bay, Alabama – April 7

 

1,016. Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Alabama – April 8

 

1,017. Coldwater Raceway, Coldwater, Alabama – April 8

 

1,018. Talladega Short Track, Talladega, Alabama – April 8

 

1,019. Ballymena Raceway, Ballymena, Northern Ireland - April 14

 

1,020. Oulton Park, Little Budworth, England - April 15

 

1,021. Somerset Rebels Banger Raceway, Rooks Bridge, England - April 16

 

1,022. Mendips Raceway, Shipham, England - April 16

 

1,023. Oval Raceway, Angmering, England - April 17

 

1,024. Arlington Stadium, Eastbourne, England - April 17

 

1,025. Southside Speedway, Midlothian, Virginia - April 28

 

1,026. Motor Mile Speedway, Radford, Virginia - April 29

 

1,027. Wythe Speedway, Wytheville, Virginia - April 29

 

1,028. Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, West Virginia - April 30

 

1,029. Old Dominion Speedway – inner inner oval, Manassas, Virginia - April 30

 

1,030. Shenandoah Speedway, Shenandoah, Virginia – May 4

 

1,031. Bridgeport Speedway (inner oval – front), Bridgeport, New Jersey - May 5

 

1,032. Empty Jug, Hawley, Pennsylvania - May 6

 

1,033. Oakland Valley Race Park, Cuddebackville, New York - May 6

 

1,034. Thunder Mountain Speedway, Center Isle, New York - May 6

 

1,035. Motocross 338, Southwick, Massachusetts - May 7

 

1,036. Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Fultonville, New York - May 7

 

1,037. Calumet County Speedway, Chilton, Wisconsin - May 19

 

1,038. Grant County Speedway, Lancaster, Wisconsin - May 20

 

1,039. Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Rockton, Illinois - May 21

 

1,040. The Milwaukee Mile (Road course), West Allis, Wisconsin - May 21

 

** Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin – May 21 (new track Carol only)

 

1,041. Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, South Dakota - May 25

 

1,042. Superior Speedway, Superior, Wisconsin - May 26

 

1,043. Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota - May 27

 

1,044. Canby Speedway, Canby, Minnesota - May 27

 

1,045. Crawford County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Denison, Iowa - May 28

 

1,046. Tri-State Speedway, Sisseton, South Dakota - May 29

 

1,047. Sheyenne River Speedway, Lisbon, North Dakota - May 29

 

1,048. Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, Pahrump, Nevada – June 3

 

1,049. The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada – June 3

 

1,050. Hibbing Raceway, Hibbing, Minnesota – June 6

 

1,051. Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, Iowa – June 7

 

1,052. Lebanon Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Missouri – June 8

 

1,053. Rocky Top Raceway, Coal Grove, Ohio – June 9

 

1,054. Midvale Speedway (oval), Midvale, Ohio – June 10

 

1,055. Midvale Speedway (figure 8), Midvale, Ohio – June 10

 

1,056. Spring Valley Raceway, Millport, Ohio – June 11

 

1,057. Rialto Airport Speedway, Rialto, California – June 17

 

1,058. Lawrenceburg Speedway (figure 8), Lawrenceburg, Indiana -  June 20

 

1,059. Lawrenceburg Speedway (temporary oval), Lawrenceburg, Indiana -  June 20

 

1,060. Thunder Mountain Speedway, Knox Dale, Pennsylvania -  June 21

 

1,061. State Park Speedway, Wausau, Wisconsin -  June 22

 

1,062. Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin -  June 23

 

1,063. Lucas Oil Speedway (oval), Wheatland, Missouri -  June 24

 

1,064. Lucas Oil Speedway (figure 8), Wheatland, Missouri -  June 24

 

1,065. Tri-City Speedway, Pontoon Beach, Illinois - June 25

 

1,066. Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, Missouri - June 29

 

1,067. Poplar Bluff Speedway, Poplar Bluff, Missouri - June 30

 

1,068. Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), Indianapolis, Indiana – July 1

 

1,069. Rush County Fairgrounds, Rushville, Indiana – July 1

 

1,070. Rock Castle Speedway, Mount Vernon, Kentucky – July 2

 

** Windy Hollow Speedway (oval), Owensboro, Kentucky – July 2

 

1,071. Heartland Park Topeka (dirt oval), Topeka, Kansas – July 3

 

1,072. Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kansas – July 3

 

1,073. Little Valley Speedway, Little Valley, New York – July 13

 

** Twin State Speedway (oval), Claremont, New Hampshire – July 14

 

1,074. Twin State Speedway (figure 8), Claremont, New Hampshire – July 14

 

1,075. Canaan Speedway (asphalt oval), Canaan, New Hampshire – July 14

 

** New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,076. White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,077. Legion Speedway, Wentworth, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,078. Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Fair Haven, Vermont – July 16